Hina Matsuri

Sunday March 10, 1991

March 3rd is hina matsuri, the Doll Festival. After last week's lesson, Nana asked me to bring something and we would have a little tea party this Sunday at 15:00 to celebrate. (I brought hand-made chocolate-covered strawberries. We always have them at this time of year for Valentine's Day and Easter in Austin.) Nana's son, Yu-kun, did not attend; our party was strictly girls only. Notice in the photo that the padding underneath the kotatsu is plugged into the wall; this is the Japanese equivalent of an electric blanket. Such luxury!

Click on the thumbnail to see the whole picture.

In the tatami room where we always have our lesson, the huge display of hina dolls was set up. The seven-step display represents the Imperial court and takes up more room than a Christmas tree. Noriko-chan, as eldest daughter, inherits the set of hina dolls. Mrs. Yamanaka's second daughter gets only a separate large doll in a glass display case (which you can see in the tokonoma (display alcove) behind Mrs. Yamanaka).

Mrs. Yamanaka whisked up some matcha (foamy green tea used in the tea ceremony) and we ate special tea ceremony sweets. Afterward, we made earrings and other jewelry out of washi which we then enameled.

Posted by M Sinclair Stevens
March 03, 2003

Comments

I loved, and still do, the Hina-matsuri. In fact, I have a small collection of dolls. I received one of the special larger ones in a glass case from a good friend of mine as a wedding present in 1990. This really moved me as I had left one behind in Los Angeles when I left there never to return and to this day do not know what became of her. I went back to that building in '92 hoping to find her, but there was no trace. It's a long story.

But now, aside from "Kaoru" as my daughter and I like to call her, I have a lovely antique one that I think is one of the musicians, though he lost his instrument a long time ago. He was a present last year from my cousin Pat who lives in Hawaii and who had a coworker bring back from Osaka. These are the only O-Hina dolls, but I have 3 lovely kokeshi, the simple carved and painted wooden dolls from Oita Ken, as well as a lovely doll in a padded kimono. She is of the more child-like dolls and has "real" hair instead of the painted style. Like the O-Hina and the "Geisha"" in the case, she has porcelain hands and head. It just occurred to me that I also have a small paper set of the emperor and empress on their small tiers.

Interestingly, my psychologist/philosopher husband loves these dolls and tries to add to my collection. I told him it was like bringing coals to Newcastle, but perhaps I am wrong. I think it has to do with a rather elitist attidtude I have that anything from Japan in my house must be something I either brought back, or something sent from a personal friend with a history of its travels fully known to me.

Comment by: jbl. Posted March 4, 2002 12:52 PM.

this is great 4 my ss project!

Comment by: yamin. Posted March 13, 2003 01:35 PM.

hajimemashite. watashi wa prasetyo desu. watashi wa gakusei desu. watashi wa 19 sai desu. douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Comment by: prasetyo dharsono. Posted January 18, 2004 02:48 AM.

Share Your Thoughts

Name:


Email Address (not displayed):


URL: (optional)


Comment: